Indian Forces Set For Big, Mean Wargame

One of India’s largest military wargames, Exercise Sudarshan Shakti, begins. Tanks and fighter aircraft will manoeuvres over India’s desert sector near the Pakistan border. Approximately 50,000 troops along with T-90, T-72, Arjun tanks and BMPs will carry out simulated assaults on their objectives with artillery and IAF providing the support. According to an Army statement today, “This exercise will be a trendsetter for the Integrated Theatre Concept. The transformation of the force is at making the Army a more agile, versatile, lethal and networked force. In this exercise, we will be trying out new structures, strategies, and test beds of an integrated, seamless air-land battle.”

I have a query.What is that cylindrical container behind the tanks engine?(I heard it contains measurement rods, which are used to measure depth of water channel before fording, can anyone confirm it?)

Prahaar

Anonymous

Gautam – Gear or no gear, IA has to fight, therefore it has to prepare with what it has. It is not Army's fault that it is working with obsolete equipment – It is our fault, 'We the Citizen of India'- for allowing such non competent thugs ruling over us for 60 years and they will still rule…because they know that Indian democracy is for sale and they know that they can buy it everyday, every hour.

Gautam

'What you want to hear to make yourselves feel good' does not equal 'sensible' or 'professional', rather the opposite.

Learn to accept bitter truths or you'll spend the rest of your lives doing the 'See no evil(truth), hear no evil(truth), speak no evil(truth) monkey act like the 3 statues covering their eyes, ears and mouth.

Even compared to other Asian armies like Singapore and South Korea the Indian Army is using obsolete equipment that has been due for replacement for years. Sure, they will manage, but that doesn't mean they HAVE to.

Gautam

BTW if you google 'Russian army rejects BMP-3' and 'Russian Army buy IFV from Italy' you'll see how useful the BMPs are. Even the newest version(BMP-3) has been rejected as under-armoured by the Russian Army which is seeking to purchase foreign armoured vehicles now.

Anonymous

The relevance of BMP2 and Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs) ultimately depends on Tactics and the role the class of BMPs are used in.Some armies have tried to use ICVs almost as tanks,trying to load them with heavy armour and weaponry. Actual combat experience have found that ICVs,made increasingly heavy with armour or heavier weapons come at the cost of mobility.The Bradleys M2 of USA have had a mixed experience,while having protected crew they were at times more vulnerable to RPGs etc due to mobility.You can only load that much of armour on an ICV,if you reduce infantry to load up more protection then it loses its basic role.That is why highly mobile lighter Strykers are the preferred troop movers of US in combat now. The fact realized is that an ICV is not a tank or a weapon best used to rush a well defended position.That is a role best left to MBTs and air-power.

The ICV is well suited as a vehicle to carry infantry under reasonable protection and then offer them fire support and defense while they dismount and fight.It is in this light that the BMP has to be seen.Of-course the BMP has its limitations,has lower than ideal protection and some other issues. But to call it as useless or totally in-effective would be overstating it.Mere looks of what others armies have,particularly those will almost nil combat experience is also not a valid comparison.The BPMs are what the Army has and it is not practical nor possible to immediately replace such a large number.Designs may get old but an old design does NOT mean an old or aged weapon.The USMC has started using Vietnam era M14 rifles for designated marksman duties as they were found ideal for the job despite many jazzed up 'latest' rifles available. We should remember that even a .303 WW2 cartridge actually is many times more powerful than a 5.56mm round of today.

The BMPs may be old by design,but they are new in manufacture as they are continually being built by OFB Medak.

Used properly and in its designated role,the BMP with its low profile is a good weapon.The BMPs will very vulnerable in an urban set up infested by RPGs and IEDs at every corner,but so will many other vehicles in a similar environment.In the mixed open terrain scenario of say the plains and deserts on India -Pak western front the BMP can be used most effectively.There is now a BMP-IIK version with better night vision,missiles and equipment.

There is now a move to get the engine upgraded with a more powerful one.

Gautam

Read this and weep. The BMPs are old and under-armoured and the ones in Russian Army service today were mostly inducted in the 80s or 90s. The Defence Ministry of Russia is clearly dissatisfied with them.

"In addition, Russia is in talks with Italy on the purchase of up to 1,000 armored vehicles. As it was reported a year ago the Russian military would like to buy up to 1,000 IVECO M65 Light Multirole Vehicles that have been used in Iraq, Afghanistan and other Italian missions abroad, where they have performed admirably."

nav

guys are you ppl aware of the eqpt with the army aviation, Chetak hepters have had their golden jubilee and awaiting diamond jubilee in the future. any thoughts about this pls share……its pretty serious?